British weapons for the F-35

[weasel1962]

JSOW-er. 4 external instead of 2 storm shadows. Double the range.

[SpudmanWP]

No Storm Shadow for theis going to curtail the QE II Class's usefulness a bit. Might have to buy JASSM or whatever is in the US pipeline for Block IV to provide some capability at least. And no ASRAAM internally seems no good either...

Smart mfgs are going with UAI.

Not many countries are willing to fork over the tens of millions it takes to do a traditional weapon integration program.

Besides, going UAI also opens up all the current F-16, F-15 and future F-18 (SH) markets to your weapon at very little additional cost.

[str]

JSOW-er. 4 external instead of 2 storm shadows. Double the range.

JSOW, as a whole (500kg), weights only slightly more than Storm Shadow's warhead (450kg). They're in entirely separate classes. US equivalent is JASSM.

[weasel1962]

...so put 2 bombs on each target. Same impact.

[jessmo111]

Does anyone know if Asraam or AIM9
Can be used for cruise missile defense?
If they can that would explain the reasoning behind so much focus with external IR missiles.
Having 2 extra shots on the rails during a missile picket, could be the difference between life and death.

[weasel1962]

Aim-9x was tested from an mml for exactly that purpose as part of ifpc inc 2-i.

If the f-35 uses boeing quad rail racks for stations 2,3,9,10, its a theretical 22 AAM missile loadout.

[str]

...so put 2 bombs on each target. Same impact.

Only if CEP = 0.

(It doesn't)

[uclass]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... 5b-428544/

The ASRAAM is a short-range, infrared-guided missile capable of flying at Mach 3. Its new version will be manufactured at MBDA’s Bolton, Lancashire site. It has the same performance characteristics as the current configuration, but benefits from an MBDA seeker – a Raytheon one is currently used

It will also be easily upgraded through software changes that will enhance the image processing and algorithm performance, and components from other MBDA products – such as the Common Anti-air Modular Missile – will be introduced.

This could be the CAMM(A).

[uclass]

JSOW-er. 4 external instead of 2 storm shadows. Double the range.

Don't bet on that. The officially quoted range is for export purposes and the US knows that, which is why it refuses to integrate it on to Saudi fighters. You can make a better guess by examining the size - 5.1m.

The RAF however slipped up a while back and let the cat out of the bag.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150103054 ... shadow.cfm

Performance
Range: 300nm+

That's probably a for lo-lo flight profile too.

After release, the wings deploy and the weapon navigates its way to the target at low level using terrain profile matching and an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS).

[uclass]

No Storm Shadow for the F-35B is going to curtail the QE II Class's usefulness a bit. Might have to buy JASSM or whatever is in the US pipeline for Block IV to provide some capability at least. And no ASRAAM internally seems no good either...

Why use a stealth asset in a non-stealthy configuration to deploy a stealthy stand-off weapon? That's the question that led to the decision.

If a Typhoon can fire the missile from out of harms way, then why use an F-35 that could be performing another sortie at the same time, like a separate deep strike or escort. There are also 11 submarines capable of firing Block IVs from the middle of nowhere too.

The UK has limited money, so this (for once) seems like a sensible limitation of spending.

[spazsinbad]

No apologies for keepin' youse in suspenders with the B for Bomber F-35B pic elsewhere (shades of Rocky Horror) but...

PICTURE: Paveway IV dropped from F-35
05 Dec 2016 Beth Stevenson

"Raytheon Systems' Paveway IV laser-guided bomb has been dropped from a Lockheed Martin F-35B, paving the way for integration of the weapon on the UK’s future Joint Strike Fighter fleet.

Carried out as part of a UK effort, the test took place at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California using a US Marine Corps-operated F-35B. It was used to collect data on the interaction between the munition and the aircraft’s on-board computers and will be followed by live firings in the coming months.

The milestone marks the first weapons release under the UK’s integration programme, which saw a number of fit tests carried out at Edwards AFB in California earlier this year.

In addition to the Paveway IV, MBDA’s ASRAAM short-range, air-to-air missile will also be integrated onto the UK’s F-35s; live firings of the latter weapon will also be carried out over the coming months.

The integration work is part of the UK’s preparations for the initial operational capability for its Joint Strike Fighters and is being supported by BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and the RAF Warfare Centre, in addition to Lockheed and the weapons manufacturers....

PHOTO: https://www.flightglobal.com/assets/get ... emid=69031

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... 35-432098/

[spazsinbad]

Britain, MBDA cut trio of missile-related deals worth $690M
21 Apr 2017 Andrew Chuter

"LONDON — In what is expected to be the final significant military equipment announcement by the British government ahead of the June 8 general election, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has revealed a set of missile-related orders with MBDA worth more than half a billion dollars.

Official go-ahead for the start of integration work on the Meteor air-to-air missile on the Lockheed Martin F-35B;... announced by Fallon at a hurriedly arranged visit to MBDA's Stevenage, England, site on April 21....

...the Ministry of Defence is investing £539 million (U.S. $690 million) in the orders, some of which have been sitting around for months awaiting announcement....

...Fallon’s announcement at Stevenage gave the official go-ahead for the start of the integration of the Meteor missile onto the F-35B fleet now slowly being built up by the British for use by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

The defense secretary said that the MoD was investing £41 million into the Meteor's integration and that the missiles would enter service on the F-35B in 2024. But the missile is expected to enter service even sooner next year when it begins to replace the Raytheon-made Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles on the Air Force’s Typhoon fleet...."

Graphic:"The Meteor missile is fired from a fighter jet in this artist's rendering. Photo Credit: Courtesy of MBDA Systems" http://snagfilms-a.akamaihd.net/69/8d/e ... issile.jpg

Source: http://www.defensenews.com/articles/bri ... worth-690m

[gabriele]

Mostly behind paywall, but today's deal seems mostly about the clipped fins kit development and the test rounds for the trials.

http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/mbd ... 35-testing

[old_rn]

Interesting graphic as it shows the F35B carrying 4 Meteors. The released one is from the door mounted one and there is another on the internal bay (plus two ASRAAMs). I wonder if the F35B Meteors will include the new Japanese active seeker?

[spazsinbad]

ZOOMed